http://www.un.org/democracyfund/.
On-line Application Now Open: UN democracy Fund Second Funding Round
15 November 2007 - Today, the UN
Democracy Fund (UNDEF) opened applications for its second round of funding. To apply please go to the UNDEF website. Applications close on 18 December 2007 and will only be accepted on-line in either English or French. The application procedure is described in the Project Proposal Guidelines available on the UNDEF website. The UNDEF was established in July 2005 as a United Nations General Trust Fund. Its primary purpose is to promote democracy through building and strengthening democratic institutions, promoting human rights and ensuring the participation of all groups in the democratic process. Some 30 Member States have made voluntary contributions to UNDEF. The importance of democracy and of democratic values in the UN can be traced back to the United Nations Charter, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. By the 1990s, democracy became a theme in a number of international conferences, and major UN organs, including the General Assembly. In addition, operational activities were increased to support the democratization processes by the UN system. At the Millennium Summit in 2000, the international community adopted the Millennium Declaration which embraced the links between international peace and security, sustainable human development and democratization. After a period of negotiation, The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) was established by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in July 2005 at the African Union Summit in Syrte, Libya. For further background reading click here. The thematic categories for applications in the first round of UNDEF
projects in 2006 were: • strengthening democratic dialogue and support for constitutional processes;
• civil society empowerment;
• civic education, voter registration and strengthening of political parties;
• citizen’s access to information;
• human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• accountability, transparency and integrity. In line with these values, priority will be given to projects that enhance inclusiveness and gender equality. For approved projects click here. The selection process for the second round of funding will comprise of two stages: • The submission on-line by applicants of a project concept, from which the Secretary-General, after advice from the UN secretariat and the UNDEF Advisory Board, will approve a short-list; and
• The elaboration by short-listed applicants of an agreed project document, based on which disbursements will commence. The short-listing of projects will be considered "approvals in principle" while final approval will depend upon successful finalization of the detailed project document, which is required to be completed within two months of advice of short-listing. Project Document Guidelines are available on the UNDEF website to assist short-listed applicants to prepare detailed project documents. UNDEF support will be provided principally to civil society activities at the country level. A small number of regional or global projects will also receive support. UNDEF will consider proposals from civil society organizations as well as from governments and official institutions. In certain cases, UN bodies may also be considered as applicants.